Heavy rain fell in southern Florida recently, and Palm Beach hasn’t been spared the barrage of flooding you’ve seen in the news. However, within the safety of the South Florida fairgrounds, automotive enthusiasts were able to stay dry and enjoy Barrett-Jackson’s 2023 Palm Beach Auction.
As seems to be true at all Barrett-Jackson auctions, Mopars have attracted plenty of attention among the classic car cognoscenti. Unlike the Scottsdale extravaganza in January, Palm Beach had the best Mopars no restomods – most classic and late models were speed demons (pun intended). Here’s a look at some of the most popular products.
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
Here’s a Challenger T/A built to homologate Dodge’s entry into Trans-Am competition. The only engine available was a 340 Six Pack, although unlike its competitors, Dodge did not use a 5-liter engine for the street cars. The AT/A set itself apart from other Challengers with interesting touches like the “N94” fiberglass hood (an option for other power Challengers), a ducktail spoiler, offset tires, and side exhaust trumpets. This four-speed Dark Burnt Orange metallic T/At has been restored to OEM specs, making it probably one of the best around. For $117,700, someone agreed.
2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
Are Demons obsolete now that the Challenger SRT Demon 170 is being built as planned? Not for your life! The description doesn’t reveal how many miles this Destroyer Gray Challenger has covered, but thoughtful modifications set it apart from other Demons, such as Kenne Bell dual fuel booster pumps with 1500cc injectors, a Per4Mance Development DIRS diff. and KW suspension. Sold to the man in the back for $220,000!
1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 383
A decent number of ‘Cuda hardtops were made in 1970, but ragtops are rare: just 635. It features the standard 335-horsepower 383 and the optional four-speed (like most cars of the era, the three-speed was standard). The High Impact Lemon Twist (code FY1) paired with the front elastomer bumper (A21) creates a clean look. Someone added the Shaker along the way, but the real ones are rarer than Hemi rags, believe it or not. Becoming the hottest guy on the block would have cost $198,000.
1969 Plymouth GTX
More people were attracted to the Road Runner, but the GTX carried the same genes in a more refined package. It was the standard 440 Super Commando—not available in the Road Runner—but it featured King Kong himself, a 426 Hemi backed by a console-shifted four-speed with that crazy, twisted Hurst transmission. The Ivy Green metallic (code F8) GTX, restored with plenty of NOS parts, also includes a 4.10-speed Super Track Pak and a Dana rear instead of a Track Pak (required for a four-speed) with a 3.54s and Dana. This Hemi car could have been yours for $165,000.
2009 Dodge Viper ACR
Vipers are crazy, but the American Club Racing version was made for masochists who wanted to drive to the track and back. Although the 600 horsepower was no different from the standard Viper, the ACR’s revised suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires set the ACR apart. However, the carbon fiber rear wing and front splitter, which contributed over 1,000 pounds of downforce (compared to the standard Viper 100) made it truly excel at 150 mph. The new owner paid $156,200 for this 1000 mile ACR.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
This car has it all: V-code 440 Six Pack, Pistol Grip four-speed manual, High Impact Go Mango (code EK2) paint with burnt orange interior, Shaker hood, rear spoiler and a luxury gator grain vinyl top. An enthusiast first spotted this Challenger in 1975, believe it or not, at a housing complex in Alaska. As it stands, the car is pretty well done, so those heading to the local ice cream parlor should have chosen a different vehicle. When the hammer fell, Chally had brought in $236,500.
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE
Here’s another classic Challenger, but this one adds a few elements to the mix. This Plum Crazy-coded FC7) R/T is also SE, so it has belt strips and other fancier exterior trim, as well as an upgraded interior (houndstooth in this case) and a vinyl top with less backlighting. It also has a 440 Six Pack, though it’s backed up by a 4.10 automatic in the Dana rear. Reported to be one of 15 products made with Shaker, it has an element of intrigue that most challengers lack. For $154,000 you could have owned an E-body with seemingly everything.
2022 Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Widebody “Black Ghost” Tribute
Here’s the best Challenger of its year, complete with the Widebody package, which adds details—like a white wasp stripe, gator grain roof, chrome gas cap, and more—that mimic the Black Ghost, a 1970 Hemi Challenger. The R/T SE is the surviving street racer to be auctioned off later this year. It’s clear that the buyer was looking forward to the “Last Call” Black Ghost because he paid $132,000 for it.
1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 383
Here’s another ‘Cuda ragtop, this one a Rallye Red 1971 of which 374 were built. Horsepower is down 35 to 300, but the ‘Cuda looks badder than ever thanks to extras like a colored grille and optional “Billboard” longitudinal stripes. This car includes the Pistol Grip four-speed, dual racing mirrors with driver side remote, Rallye wheels, Rallye gauges, Go-Wing and more. The 1971 ‘Cuda has always been a hobby favorite, and this Plymouth didn’t disappoint, pulling in a high bid of $123,200.
1953 Dodge Power Wagon
Actor Tom Selleck once owned a low-mileage Power Wagon pickup that was originally a fire truck with a PTO winch and water pump system. Selleck had the wagon restored and modified for use on his ranch, which included wood paneling for the cargo box, reworked upholstery, and a rifle rack. Power comes from a 230ci inline-six mated to a four-speed manual, and the electrical system has been upgraded to 12 volts. It only took $115,500 to buy this one for the bunker.
